By SBI SOCCER
In a match many predicted to be a cakewalk for Manchester United against its North London foe, it turned out to be anything but.
Following a dismal week, which saw Arsenal drop its second consecutive UEFA Champions League game, the Gunners bounced back in a big way by defeating the now former English Premier League leader, 3-0, at Emirates Stadium.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil gave the hosts a quick two-goal lead, and the red Devils were unable to respond. The Chilean international would eventually tally his second of the day in front of 64,084.
With the important league win, Arsenal leapfrogs Manchester United into second place on the table, but it remains two point shy of first-place Manchester City after eight games.
Here’s a closer look at all of Sunday’s European action:
BAYERN MUNICH HAMMERS RIVAL BORUSSIA DORTMUND
The Bayern Munich masterclass was one full display Sunday, as the German giant pummeled its Bundesliga rival at Allianz Arena.
Bayern dominated in front a packed house of 75,000 en route to a 5-1 victory, its eighth in eight games this season. Borussia Dortmund started the 2015-16 league campaign red-hot with five wins in five games, but it hasn’t won in its last three.
With the Thomas Müller scoring twice before halftime, Bayern were on their way to another decisive win. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to pull one back before the break, though. His effort would be for naught, as the man in superb form as of late, Robert Lewandowski, scored just 22 seconds into the second interval. The Polish star would add another before Mario Götze put the nail in the coffin with a goal of his own.
Bayern now sits seven points clear of second-place Dortmund in first place on the table.
ATELTICO FORCES TIE LATE AGAINST REAL MADRID
In Madrid, two La Liga heavyweights battled it out but couldn’t find a game-winner at Vicente Calderón.
Karim Benzema scored in the ninth minute for Real Madrid, and it looked set to be another blowout for Los Blancos. Real Madrid couldn’t capitalize again throughout the game, though, and Luciano Vietto found the equalizer in the 83rd minute.
Head coach Diego Simeone enjoyed the finish at the doorstep, running along the end line to celebrate in front of 53,079.
Here’s a look at Sunday’s results:
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Everton 1, Liverpool 1.
Arsenal 3, Manchester United 0.
Swansea City 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Schalke 04 0, Cologne 3.
Bayern Munich 5, Borussia Dortmund 1.
Bayer Leverkusen 1, Augsburg 1.
SPANISH LA LIGA
Rayo Vallecano 0, Real Betis 2.
Athletic Bilbao 3, Valencia 1.
Levante 1, Villarreal 0.
Atlético Madrid 1, Real Madrid 1.
ITALIAN SERIE A
Empoli 1, Sassuolo 0.
Udinese 1, Genoa 1.
Sampdoria 1, Inter 1.
Lazio 2, Frosinone 0.
Juventus 3, Bologna 1.
AC Milan 0, Napoli 4.
Fiorentina 2, Atalanta 0.
FRENCH LIGUE 1
AS Monaco 1, Stade Rennes 1.
Caen 1, St. Etienne 0.
Lorient 3, Bordeaux 2.
Paris Saint-Germain 2, Marseille 1.